Floaters Floaters are actually cellular debris within the vitreous, the jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. They may be seen as strings, streaks, clouds, bugs, dots, dust, or spider webs. These objects appear to be in front of the eye, but they are really floating in this fluid, and at the same [Read More]
News
New Anti-PDGF Aptamer Now in Trials
by Dan Roberts February 15, 2008 Ophthotech has begun the first phase of a clinical trial of E10030, an anti-platelet derived growth factor aptamer being developed for treating wet AMD. The trial will evaluate the safety and tolerability of E10030 in combination with an antiangiogenic drug. The hope is that the combination will result in [Read More]
A Guide to Research in Dry AMD
Compiled by Dan Roberts (Updated 8/7/2023) What Is Geographic Atrophy? Geographic atrophy (GA) is a late stage of “dry” age-related macular degeneration (AMD) presenting with gradual deterioration of the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layers of the retina. The main symptom is the absence of vision in one or more areas of the central [Read More]
Clinical Trial Finds Antioxidants and Zinc Beneficial in Reducing Risk of Severe AMD
by Tom Hoglund, Information Officer Foundation Fighting Blindness October 2007 Reprinted by permission. (Updated May 6, 2013) Patients with advanced cases of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can moderately lower the risk of developing the more severe wet form of the disease and preserve vision by taking a daily dose of antioxidant vitamins and zinc. [Read More]
How Many People are Legally Blind from Wet AMD?
by Dan Roberts April 2013 The latest report I have seen that provides anything close to an accurate estimate of legal blindness among people with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is Wilmer Eye Institute’s “Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States” by Congdon N, et al (Arch Ophthalmol. 2004 Apr;122(4):477-85). [Read More]